§ 49. Mr. Molloyasked the Minister of Labour if he will give what figures are in his possession to make a comparison between the numbers of official and unofficial strikes, and the number of days lost thereby, in this country and other major industrial nations.
§ Mr. GunterOver the seven years 1960–66 inclusive, the number of stoppages known to have been official averaged under five per cent. of all stoppages but caused about 40 per cent. of the total number of days lost.
Separate figures for official and unofficial strikes and the number of days lost thereby in other major industrial nations are not available but figures for 1966 supplied by the International Labour Office and due to be published in the Ministry of Labour Gazette in November show that of the countries of chief industrial importance in the free world only West Germany and Japan lost fewer days proportionately through strikes than the U.K.
§ 50. Mr. Molloyasked the Minister of Labour what action he has taken, or intends to take, in the present trade disputes in this country, in particular those connected with the docks.
§ Mr. GunterI am taking, and shall continue to take, such action as is appropriate in the particular circumstances of each case.
In the case of Liverpool docks I have appointed Mr. A. J. Scamp to undertake an inquiry into the locally determined aspects of the system of payment and earnings opportunities of dockers. At my suggestion, Mr. Scamp has had discussions with representatives of the 355W employers and workers with a view to finding in advance of his report a basis for a resumption of work. I understand that the agreement reached in these discussions is to be considered at a meeting of the men on Wednesday.
The unofficial stoppages in parts of the London docks raise different issues and I am keeping closely in touch with the continuing efforts of the employers and unions to secure a resumption of normal working.